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Press release: Kazakhstan supports UNCCT

Kazakhstan supports the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre

New York, 8 June 2017 – The Republic of Kazakhstan donated US$300,000 to the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Trust Fund to support Member States in the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. In particular, the funds will be used to support the Implementation of the Joint Plan of Action for the United Nations Global Counter Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia.

H.E. Mr. Yerzhan Ashikbayev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, reiterated Kazakhstan`s strong commitment to combat terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, in accordance with the initiatives of the President of Kazakhstan H.E. Mr. Nursultan Nazarbayev, to promote global peace and security.

“We are convinced that the fight against this scourge must be waged by the joint efforts of all United Nations Member States and under United Nations principles”, he said. “Therefore, we consider our present contribution to the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre as one of the important elements to prevent and address these challenges in Central Asia,” Mr. Ashikbayev added.

Dr. Jehangir Khan, Director of the Counter-terrorism Implementation Task Force Office and the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre said the Government's contribution came at a crucial time in the context of the High-Level United Nations-Central Asian Dialogue on Implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia, which is taking place on 13 June 2017 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

He expressed appreciation for the contribution and emphasized that it would enhance the ability of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre to support Member States in Central Asia in their joint efforts to implement the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in the region.

“The Republic of Kazakhstan plays an important role at the regional and global levels in countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism. The country has demonstrated great vision and leadership in promoting inter-cultural tolerance and harmony through meaningful and concrete actions. Kazakhstan has now become the first donor country from Central Asia to the UN Counter-Terrorism Trust Fund,” said Dr. Khan.

United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre was established in 2011 within the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force Office in the Department of Political Affairs. It provides capacity-building support for Member States in implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

The General Assembly, in its most recent biennial review resolution (A/RES/70/291) of 1 July 2016 called on Member States to provide resources and voluntary contributions to the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre.

An initial contribution from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia led to the establishment of the Centre. There are now over twenty donors to the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Trust Fund.